Public Security Minister Tiran Alles has vowed to take action against the individual responsible for causing disruption at the visa issuing section of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), as well as against the officers who recorded the incident. Speaking at a special media briefing convened at the Public Security Ministry, Minister Alles clarified the controversy surrounding the on-arrival visa facility at the BIA, emphasizing that VFS Global, the company involved, is not Indian-owned but is predominantly owned by the Blackstone Group. He highlighted that the proposal for the new visa system was unanimously passed in Parliament on November 23, 2023, including provisions for visa fees, necessitating the implementation of the VFS system from April 17, 2024.
Minister Alles refuted claims made by a passenger that the visa issuing company was Indian, noting that 13 Sri Lankan employees were working at the visa counters that night. He stressed that decisions regarding visa issuance or rejection are solely made by the Immigration Department of Sri Lanka, not by VFS Global. Additionally, Minister Alles mentioned that the Cabinet had received a proposal four years ago to establish such a visa issuing institution within the BIA, underscoring the international presence and reputation of VFS Global, which operates in 151 countries and is utilized by 67 governments.
Addressing concerns over visa fees, Minister Alles explained that while there was an oversight regarding the $50 30-day visa, it would be implemented from the following day, alongside the existing $75 six-month visa. He emphasized the non-Indian ownership of VFS Global and indicated that the company would release a statement clarifying its role in Sri Lanka. He reiterated that VFS Global cannot issue or reject visas, as this authority lies solely with the Immigration and Emigration office, while VFS Global only verifies documents.